USA > New York > Chenango County > Book of biographies : this volume contains biographical sketches of leading citizens of Chenango County, New York > Part 29
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has not been an aspirant for office. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and a liberal contributor to all the good work of that society. The publishers of this volume are indeed pleased to be able to present on a preceding page a portrait of Mr. Miller.
RED A. SWEET, the present popular postmaster, and a highly respected citizen of his native town, was born in the town of Smyrna, this county, September 29, 1862. He is a son of Leroy C. and Amelia C. (Talcott) Sweet, and grandson of Thomas and Ruth (Allen) Sweet.
Thomas Sweet eame to the village of Smyrna at an early day, and engaged in the pursuits of an agriculturist, which occupa- tion he followed all his life. He was joined in wedlock with Miss Ruth Allen.
Leroy C. Sweet was born October 19, 1825, and was a very successful farmer and specu- lator, spending the most of his days in his native town of Smyrna. He was an active politician, and in all his relations to the pub- lic welfare, his actions were prompted by pure motives and a desire for the general good. He was married to Amelia C. Talcott, daughter of Harvey Taleott, who was born in Bolton, Conn., in 1797. Mr. Talcott be- came a farmer of Smyrna, and died there in 1847. In 1812 he married Mary Wallace of Ellington, Conn. She died in 1868. Harvey Taleott was a school teacher in his younger days, and when he came to Smyrna he settled on the farm where William Comstock now resides, and later made his home where C.
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Hayward lives. In 1822 he built the house in which our subject now resides ; he also built the corner store where the firm of Ferris, Sternberg & Co. is located, and there he car- ried on a general store until the time of his death. He was the first postmaster of the village of Smyrna, which position he held for twenty-five years, and was also a trustee of the village. He reared a family of eight chil- dren : Philura married B. Hartwell ; Dwight died at the age of three years; Watts, de- ceased ; Mary, wife of J. O. Ransom ; Dwight (2), deceased, who was a resident of Chicago, Ill; Amelia, our subject's mother and wife of Leroy C. Sweet; Maria L., who married N. P. Wheeler; and Charlotte C., who married Thomas Miller, and later married Frank Finch of Chicago, Ill. As a result of the union of our subject's parents five children blessed the home: Thomas; Dwight; Kittie L .; Fred A., subject of this sketch; and Mary, who married I. S. Colwell of Auburn, N. Y.
Fred A. Sweet received his education in the public schools of Smyrna. He had an inherited aptitude for farming, and with his brother Dwight purchased the farm of his father, where they engaged in general farm- ing until 1893, when our subject was ap- pointed postmaster of Smyrna. On his mother's lot he erected a building, into which he moved the postoffice, and has filled the duties of his position to the en- tire satisfaction of the patrons of the office. Mr. Sweet learned to manufacture butter, which trade he followed for eight years in Sherburne Falls and in Ipswich, Mass. He married Miss Adelia C. Coye, daughter of
F. D. Coye, a leading and progressive farmer of Smyrna, and they have one little boy, Franklin Leroy, born in the town of Smyrna, July 18, 1888.
RS. LINDA M. STOCKWELL of West Bainbridge is one of the oldest residents of Chenango County, and enjoys the respect and friend- ship of the entire community. She is a daughter of Hiram and Charlotte (Atwater) Johnson, and was born September 27, 181I, in Easton, now included in Guilford, this county.
Her grandfather, Daniel Johnson, came to Guilford in 1800, when there were but few houses there, and the country had but few improvements of civilized life to attract settlers. His home had been in the town of Wolcott, Conn., previous to this, but he came to the new country, expecting to make his home and his fortune, and at once set about clearing this wilderness, succeeding at last in getting it in such shape that he had a very desirable farm. He served as a soldier of the Revolution, but his life was spared, and he returned to his home, where he died peacefully some years later.
Hiram Johnson was also a native of Wol- cott, Conn., and came with his father's family to this county. He was the oldest of the family, and was born in 1786. He was prominent in political affairs, and held several offices, the duties of which were discharged in the most orderly and businesslike manner. His last public office was that of pathmaster,
WILLIAM A. BROWN.
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and his work in this office was the subject of much favorable comment. His life was one of usefulness, and his death was the cause of universal sorrow throughout the town of Guilford, where he died, in 1873, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven years. He was married to Charlotte Atwater, and their union resulted in the birth of two children : Linda M., the subject of this biography ; and Mary Ann, who married Birdsall Yale. Mr. and Mrs. Yale are now deceased.
Mrs. Linda M. Stockwell grew to young womanhood in the town of Guilford, and made many friends, who hold her in high esteem. She was twice married, the first time to Uriah Ives, in February, 1836. Her second union was with Davis Stockwell. Mrs. Stockwell is now in her eighty-seventh year, and is a remarkably well preserved woman, showing a clearness of intellect and a strength of mind that might well belong to a much younger person.
ILLIAM A. BROWN, the genial and popular postmaster of Preston Corners, whose portrait is shown on the op- posite page, is a son of Paul and Harriet S. (Alexander) Brown, and was ushered into this world on October 1, 1849, in North Nor- wich, Chenango County.
His grandfather, Nehemiah Brown, came from Cortland to the town of Norwich, where he was employed at the carpenter trade. He was the father of the following children: Paul; Cyrus; Eleazer; James; Marquis ; William : and George.
Paul Brown was born in Cortland County. He resided for the greater portion of his life in the town of New Berlin, where he carried on farming. He was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Alexander, and they are now living in the town of Norwich. Their home has been blessed by the birth of five children : Lavina; Harriet ; Mina; Emily ; and William, all of whom have grown to maturity, and arc regarded with the greatest respect and es- teem by the communities in which they reside. Mr. Brown was a Republican, but his time was so entirely employed with agricultural pursuits that he gave but little attention to political affairs.
William A. Brown, the subject of this biography, received his carly mental training in the district schools of the town of New Berlin, and then entered upon his career as an agriculturist, a calling for which he was peculiarly fitted, both by nature and by his early training. He came to Preston in 1870, became acquainted with Miss Emma Evans, and made her his wife, February 23, 1876. She is a daughter of Charles Evans, a resi- dent of Plymouth township, this county. They have one child, Lulu. In 1877, he took up his residence on the farm on which he still lives, at Preston Corners. Mr. Brown has always been a hard worker, never shirking a duty, no matter how disagreeable it might be to perform, and he is now enjoying the fruits of his industry and enterprise, having accu- mulated a considerable property. He and his wife own two of the best farms at Preston Corners, one of which they make their home, and another situated near by, consisting o! 150 and 230 acres respectively. However, he
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is not a man to enjoy too much leisure, no matter how well earned, and at the present time is actively engaged in general farming, to which he has added a dairy business, keep- ing 40 cows, and receiving from them no small share of his profits. Besides looking after his extensive farming interests, he is the acting postmaster of Preston Corners, and so obliging is he, and willing to please, that he has the support of Democrats as well as Republicans. Perhaps in no position can a man's standing in the community be so readily established, provided he be made of the right material, as in that of postmaster, for the calls upon his time are so incessant, often unnecessary, that it is often a strain upon his good nature, and the fact that Mr. Brown is a universal favorite, with young and old alike, speaks for him the highest praise. He has always been an ardent worker for the Republican party, and has held many offices within the gift of the peo- ple ; he has at different times been assessor, supervisor, and town clerk of the town of Preston, giving complete satisfaction to his constituents. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are at- tendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their hands are always extended to assist a worthy cause.
1 SAAC H. WILLSEY, the enterprising clothier of Bainbridge village, is a son of Isaac and Hannah ( Dietz ) Willsey, and was born January 15, 1836, in the town of Berne, Albany County, N. Y. The old home of the Willsey family was in Holland ;
from there they emigrated to this country, set- tling in the valley of the Hudson, and were members of an old Knickerbocker family.
Henry Willsey, the grandfather, of our subject, was born in the Hudson valley, either in Dutchess or Westchester County. His occupation was that of a farmer, and after his marriage he moved to Albany County.
Isaac Willsey, the father, was born in the town of Berne, Albany County, in 1798. He was a very successful farmer, and his entire life was passed on the farm where he was born. He died at the age of eighty-eight years. Politically, he was a Whig, and later a Republican ; one who took a deep interest in the success of his party. He served as justice of the peace for twenty-one years. He married Hannah Dietz, and to them twelve children were born : Jacob, deceased ; Henry, deceased ; Hiram, deceased ; Hannah Maria, deceased ; Elmira ; Mary ; Katherine, deceased ; Seneca; Isaac; Emma; Joseph ; and Harriet.
Isaac H. Willsey was married to Miss Sophia Mercellis; they are the parents of four children, all of whom are living, and an honor to the communities in which they live. Theodore D. is the proprietor of the Central Hotel at Bainbridge; Burton B. has charge of the National Express office at Buffalo, N. Y .; Viola lives at home ; and Austin G., who is employed in the National Express office at Buffalo. Mr. Willsey was educated in the public schools and Rensselaer Acad- erny, and the few years following his gradua- tion, until he was twenty-five years old, were spent on the farm. He then took charge of the hotel at Rensselaerville, Albany County,
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which he conducted four years, with the sat- isfaction of knowing that his guests were well pleased with the treatment they re- ceived at his hands. He then engaged in the boot and shoe business for a period of seven years, three of which were spent in Cohoes and four in Schenectady. Finding this busi- ness did not appear to be just suited to him, he came to Bainbridge in 1877 and once more embarked in the hotel business, this time as the proprietor of the Central Hotel, which he conducted with the best of success for seven- teen years, and then sold it to his son Theo- dore. He endeavored to please his patrons, and so well did he succeed that his hotel had a far-reaching reputation for the excellency of the table and the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms; in consequence of this, he al- ways had a house full of guests, and it was with sincere regret that they saw him give up the charge of the house, even though the new proprietor was his son. For three ycars after leaving the hotel Mr. Willsey lived a retired life, but he was not a man to settle down to a life of idleness, although such rest had been well earned, and at the end of that time he again started in business, this time in a gentlemen's clothing and furnishing store, where he meets his hosts of old friends, and carries on a most profitable business. Politi- cally, Mr. Willsey has been a Republican, and is an indefatigable worker for the success of his party. He has been president of the vil- lagc of Bainbridge for six or scven terms, and is quite popular with all classes of citi- zens, irrespective of party. He is a member of the Susquehanna Lodge, No. 167, F. & A. M. of Bainbridge.
OBERT A. BENEDICT, the efficient station and express agent of the village of Afton, is a son of Apollos and Lucinda (King) Benedict, and was born in the village of Bainbridgc, Che- nango County, October 1, 1858.
Apollos Benedict was born near Danbury, Conn., where he passed his boyhood days, after which he came to this county, and settled in Bainbridge. Later he moved to West Bainbridge, and remained there the rest of his life. His occupation was that of a tailor, and he was well-known as a skilled workman in that line. He was twice bound in the holy bonds of wedlock. His first union was with Miss Amanda R. Sanford, and they became the parents of the follow- ing children: Cyril, deceased; Edwin, also deccased ; and Susan, who was the wife of a Mr. Fairfield, a prominent man of Hudson, N. Y., now deceased. After Mr. Fairfield's death, his widow was united in marriage with Frank Alden Hill, deceased, whose pro- fession was that of a lawyer. Mrs. Hill has traveled extensively over England and the Continent, and is now living in Hampton, N. H. Apollos Benedict's second wife's maiden name was Lucinda King, and they reared three children, namely : Howard A., a druggist of Bolivar, N. Y .; Hobert A., whose name heads these lines; and Lyman C., a farmer of South New Berlin. Ile was a faithful member of the Congregational Church, and as he was a talented musician, he was accustomed to play in the church choir. In political belief, he was a stanch Republican, and voted uniformly with his party. Mr. Benedict was called Home in
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1866, at the age of sixty-six years, and his wife survived him two years.
Hobert A. Benedict was reared in his native town, and received his mental training in the common schools. After his parents' deaths, he went to live with Silas Kneeland, at Beech Hill, Delaware County, and later made his home with an uncle, Wilder Fuller, with whom he remained five years. At the age of twenty-two he came to Afton, where he took a two ycars' course in the Afton Union School and Academy. He then went into the railroad office at Afton, where he learned telegraphy, and soon after became baggage master and clerk. Hc officiated in that capacity until 1893. During the first two years of that time, W. R. Sloan was station agent, after which Gcorge E. Sackett filled that position. Mr. Benedict workcd hard and faithfully, and when the oppor- tunity presented itself, in 1893, he was re- warded by being made station agent. He has held that position since, to the entirc satisfaction of his superior officers. He is also express agent, and agent for the Travel- ers' Insurance Co. of Hartford, Conn. His brother, Lyman, succeeded him as baggage master and assistant clerk, but after two years' time he returned to the farm, near South Ncw Berlin.
Mr. Benedict was united in marriage with Emma May Jacobs of Afton, and they are the happy parents of two bright daughters, namely: Gladys May; and Ruth J. In politics. he is a firm supporter of the Repub- lican party. He is a member of the Baptist Church, of which he is a deacon and trustee, and takes an active interest in the church
affairs. Our subject is still in the prime of life, is active and enterprising, and is es- teemed as a man of great worth in his com- munity.
YRUS B. MARTIN stands at thc head of one of the largest manufac- turing concerns in Norwich, the David Maydole Hammer Co., whose pro- ducts are to be found in the markets of the world. Since 1877, when he bought a quar- tcr interest of his father-in-law, David May- dole, founder of the company, he has given his attention chiefly to this intcrest. For many years he was engaged in journalistic work. He is president of the Chenango National Bank of Norwich. Mr. Martin was born in Argyle, N. Y., September 6, 1830.
UCIUS C. ANDREWS, M. D., a practicing physician of Pitcher town- ship, and a coroner of Chenango County, N. Y., was born in Venice, Cayuga County, N. Y., March 25, 1853. He is a son of William Harrison and Emeline (Harris) Andrews, and grandson of Obed Andrews.
The Andrews family originally came from England, but Obed Andrews was a native of the Green Mountain State, and came to Ven- ice, Cayuga County, this state, about the year 1800, where he engaged in farming. He was married in Vermont, and became the father of nine children, five sons and four daughters,
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of whom William H. Andrews was the fourth son.
The father of our subject was born in Venice, Cayuga County, August 13, 1816, and resided on the homestead all his life. He was twice joined in marital bonds. The first wife was Mary Welch, by whom he had three children, namely : Abidah A., deceased, who was the wife of Daniel Kratzer of Cort- land County, N. Y .; Glenn, who was one of the many heroic men who offered up their lives that the Union might endure; and Mortin M., who follows the trade of a car- penter in Buffalo, N. Y. Glenn Andrews, named above was a member of Co. I, 111th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf .; with a portion of his company he was captured by the Confeder- ates and placed in Andersonville Prison, where he died by starvation, neglect and ex- posure. The second wife of William H. Andrews was Emeline Harris, a daughter of Henry Harris, a farmer of the town of Locke, Cayuga County, N. Y. They became the parents of seven children, whose names are as follows: Amelia S., who died in March, 1876, aged twenty-nine years ; Mary E., who is the wife of Lowell Mason, a farmer of the town of Venice, Cayuga County, N. Y .; Ves- tina J., a typewriter and stenographer of Al- bany, N. Y .; Dr. Lucius C., our subject ; Victor, a farmer on the old homestead ; Adel- bert H., a prosperous merchant of the town of Moravia, Cayuga County ; and Willie HI., deceased, who died in his boyhood. Mrs. Andrews was called Home in June, 1866, being forty years of age.
Dr. Andrews spent his early life on the homestead, and attended the district schools
of his native town, after which he was a stu- dent at the Moravia Union School. He then taught in the district schools for several years, at length taking up the study of medi- cine, in 1877, with Dr. Dudley of King's Fer- ry. He attended lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, for two terms in 1877-78. Then after pursuing a two years' course in the Medical Depart- ment of the University of New York, from which institution he was graduated March 10, 1880, he took special courses in physical diagnosis and gynecology. Dr. Andrews thus had the benefit of instruction in some of the best medical schools in the country, and laid hold of every opportunity of becoming a thoroughly learned and skillful physician. These facts being generally recognized, it is not remarkable that his practice is so large, and that he should be brought in contact with more critical and baffling cases than usually fall to the lot of physicians outside of the large cities. Immediately after gradua- tion, he began practicing at Venice, where he remained for seven years. In February of 1887 he located in Pitcher, as it gave him a wider field for practice. In political belief, he is a Republican of the purest type, and has held several offices. For several years he was health officer; for the past six years he had served as coroner with such satisfac- tion to the county, that he was again chosen to fill that office at the last election.
On March 16, 1887, he was joined in Hy- men's bonds with Esther E. De Groff, daugh- ter of William and Helen (Holmes) De Groff, the former of whom was a farmer of the town of Fleming, Cayuga County, N. Y.
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One child has been born to add to their wed- ded happiness, and cement their union, George Lucius. Dr. Andrews is prominent in social circles, being a member of the Che- nango County Medical Society, and a mem- ber of the Cincinnatus Lodge, No. 706, F. & A. M. Allying himself with the Congregation- al Church and Society, he is an active worker in that organization, and for eight years was superintendent of the Sabbath School. He and his estimable wife are active workers in all religious and benevolent fields, and take a deep interest in everything that tends to uplift and benefit mankind.
ON. DAVID LYMAN FOLLETT was born in Sherburne, N. Y., July 17, 1836, and is a son of Uzziel and Fanny (Miller) Follett, residents and citizens of that town. He was educated in the Oneida Conference Seminary and began the study of law with Rexford & Kingsley, at Norwich, N. Y., April 1, 1856, and January 5, 1858, was admitted to the bar at Bing- hamton, N. Y. April 1, 1858, he opened an office in Norwich, this county, and continued in the active practice of his profession until his elevation to the bench, January 1, 1875. On January 13, 1862, he was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States, and a year later, January 29, 1863, ob- tained the right to practice and bring his cases before the Circuit Court for the Northern District of New York. February 25, 1864, he still further extended his field of opera- tions, being admitted on that date to the Cir-
cuit Court for the Southern District of New York. March 21, 1867, he was admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. March 2, 1867, he was appointed by Presi- dent Johnson, and confirmed by the United States Senate, as Assessor of Internal Rev- enue for the Nineteenth District of New York ; he served in this federal position until May 20, 1873, when the office was abolished, pursuant to Chapter 13, Laws of 1872.
Judge Follett dates his connection with the bench of the State from January 1, 1875, when he took office. He had been nominated in 1874 by the Republican Convention for Jus- tice of the Supreme Court for the term of fourteen years, and as there was no opposing Democratic candidate, Judge Follett was elected without a contest. In the .Novem- ber election of 1888, he was re elected for another fourteen years, being supported by both Republican and Democratic parties. Judge Follett has also held a number of high appointive offices, to which his selection was but natural, considering the able manner in which he had administered justice on the bench. He was appointed by Gov. Hill, May 6, 1887, pursuant to Chapter 124 of the Laws of 1887, a Commissioner to revise with David Dudley Field and Judge William Rumsey the Proposed Code of Evidence. Gov. Cleveland designated him May 17, 1884, as an Associate Justice of the General Term of the Fourth Department, and Judge Follett filled that judicial office until January 21, 1889, when he was designated by Gov. Hill to act as an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals to form a Second Division
HENRY C. BENNETT.
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of that Court, by which Court he was chosen Chief Judge, and so continued until October 1, 1892, when the Court was discontinued. November 18, 1892, he was designated by Gov. Flower as an Associate Justice of the General Term of the First Department, and served until December 31, 1895, when the Court was abolished by the Constitution adopted in 1894. October 7, 1895, Judge Follett was appointed by Gov. Morton to serve as an Associate Justice of the Fourth Appellate Division from and after January I, 1896, in which position he is now (1898) serving.
Judge Follett was married September 23, 1862. His wife, Jane Polhemus Randall be- fore her marriage, was born in Cortland, Oc- tober 4, 1837, and was a daughter of Henry Stevens and Jane (Polhemus) Randall. Mrs. Follett was educated at Cortlandville Acad- emy. To Judge and Mrs. Follett have been born two sons, one of whom is now living. Henry Randall, the elder, was born February 19, 1869, in Norwich, N. Y., and was educated at Phillip's Exeter and Dummer Academies. He was graduated at the Albany Law School, June 17, 1891, and was admitted to practice in the courts of New York State April 29, 1892. April 1, 1896, he began to practice in Norwich, N. Y. The younger son, David Miller, born November 3, 1870, in Norwich, N. Y., died there June 30, 1872.
ENRY C. BENNETT, the leading mason and contractor in the village of Norwich, is a son of Stephen and Clarissa (Jenkins) Bennett, and was born
at Guilford, Chenango County, New York, October 1, 1850.
His grandfather, Solomon Bennett, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., and later in life moved to the town of Guilford and engaged in farming, following that occupa- tion all his life. He had a family of four sons and two daughters.
Stephen Bennett, father of our subject, was reared in Delaware County. He receiv- ed a liberal education, and then followed the pursuits of an agriculturist in the town of Guilford. Politically, he was a Democrat, and voted his chosen ticket all his life. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and took an active part in its affairs, being trustee for a number of years. He was a member of the old state militia. He was joined in wed- lock with Miss Clarissa Jenkins, and they reared a family of eleven children : Lewis ; Eliza, deceased ; Susan; Dubois; Luman, deceased ; Carrie ; Oscar ; Alvin ; Henry C .; Frank ; and Nelson. Mrs. Bennett died in 1879. Mr. Bennett passed from this life in 1895.
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